Relationships between Deterioration of Oral Functions and Nutritional Status in Elderly Patients in an Acute Hospital

Abstract

　Purpose：The effects of various oral functions on nutritional status and general conditions are not well elucidated, especially in frail or dependent elderly individuals. Thus, in the present study, we investigated the associations and relationships between deterioration of oral functions and malnutrition in hospitalized frail elderly patients.

　Methods：Patients who were admitted to an acute hospital and visited its dental clinic were prospectively recruited from October, 2015 to February, 2016. The variables related to oral functions and oral hygiene were collected. Nutritional status was measured using Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form（MNA-SF）. The nutritional level was divided into malnutrition and normal status based on the MNA-SF scores. The differences in the measures for oral and general conditions by nutritional level and aging were statistically tested.

　Results：Most of the measures related to oral functions were lower in the malnutrition group than in the normal group, which were affected by aging as well. The measures for QOL and ADL were also significantly lower in the malnutrition group than the normal group and the old-old group than the other groups.

　Conclusion：The findings in this study suggest that the assessment and treatment of deterioration of oral functions were useful to consider the nutritional status of frail hospitalized elderly patients. Moreover, adequate oral management before admission to a hospital can contribute to maintaining proper nutritional status during illness.